6 [1-6] Audience (1/2)

Whether the audience hall at the Royal Castle of Ciel-Teirah is luxurious or not is a matter of opinion.

It is a rather common audience hall with a red carpet up to the throne at the far end and gold decorations on the white walls. It was a cozy place that was probably luxurious enough from the perspective of the common people, but if it were not, it would be inferior to the castle of a lord of another country.

Even so, the king on the throne, ...... Hilbert II, or Hilbert ”Lionheart” Nicholas Ciel-Teira, looked satisfied and squinted at the view from his throne.

Hilbert was in his late thirties. He had brownish-red hair and beard, which he wore slightly puffed out to make his thin face look larger. Even so, his body was not thick enough to make him look long and thin, and he lacked dignity. He is aware of this, and has secretly added shoulder pads to his crimson cloak.

”Your Majesty, the First Knight Commander is here to see you.

Let him pass.

The Kingsguard who came as a forerunner was still a little awkward. Hilbert smiled at that. The previous king's bodyguard had died fighting for him. The current guards were all freshly recruited.

The sound of clanking armor approached, and soon Lawrence appeared.

He had removed his full-face helmet and was carrying it under his arm. His appearance, as a bard once wrote, ”Even his face inspires allies. On his head is the flame of passion, and in his eyes is the precious sunshine. There is no maiden who does not dream of a knight more glorious than the seven moons combined. Lawrence was a knight who was admired not only for his power but also for his beauty.

He came in with more gusto than was necessary, and as was the custom, he knelt down seven paces in front of her.

”Raise your face.

When Hilbert called out to him, Lawrence looked up. His eyes lit up as if he were a child watching a knight's procession.

It was wonderfully comforting to be respected so openly and honestly by a heroic warrior.

Hilbert wondered what Lawrence, who had been so obsequious to the former king, looked like when he used to come to this audience room.

”Thank you for all your hard work.

”What a waste of words.

Lawrence dropped to one knee and bowed deeply again.

I didn't think he'd come back as an undead.

”Well... I did not expect him to rise as an undead. You know my father's heart.

I can't help but think that your decision to strike down that man, unworthy of a king, was unquestionably the right one.

”You may follow me. But what is this matter you have been discussing?

Yes. Yes. It's about the sword you used to fight him.

Lawrence pulled out the sword at his waist and held it in front of him.

It is the treasure of Ciel-Teirah, the magical sword Teir-Ayul.

It was made of the highest quality orichalcone from the mines of the country, hammered by the best dwarven smiths of the day, and hammered with some rare dragon material. It is, without a doubt, the most expensive sword in the land today.

As a magic item, it is ”absurdly sharp” and ”inexplicably tough. ...... That's all. However, the blow cuts through the thick armor without a single damage to the blade, and the magic power that seeps out of it becomes a powerful impact and strikes the opponent. It has been given to many knight captains in the past generations, and has brought them many military successes. It was a sword that could serve as a banner for allies on the battlefield (or rather, it was made for that purpose).

Not only is it strong, but the beauty of its blade is praised in many songs.

It's not just the strength, but also the beauty of the blade that has been praised in many songs. ...... But the blade of the sword is now covered in blood.

”This is .......

As Hilbert leaned forward, a guard took the sword from Lawrence and brought it to the throne.

Hilbert took the sword himself and looked at the blade. The blood is a subtle shade, almost dry. It has an unpleasant wetness to it.

”A stain from the fight with him. It is my fault that I have defiled the supreme magic sword, a national treasure, in this way. ......

”Good. What is it, anyway?

I don't know. I don't know. I've washed it, polished it, and even had the priests clean it, but it won't come off.

One of the priests said ...... that this is a sign that the undead have not been destroyed and are still cursing.

What a ......

I'm not sure what to make of it.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

”To tell you the truth, the final blow of that battle, the one I thought was the final blow. In fact, the last blow of that battle, which I thought would be the final blow, had a strange response, as if I had been let down.

For example, it was as if the ...... shell had been cut and the contents had escaped somewhere.

”Hmm .......

Lawrence said, clamoring to say something.

It is a painful thing to tell a respected king of your own inadequacies. But as a knight, Lawrence seemed to be motivated by a sense of duty to report everything he had learned in battle.

I don't blame you. If a great man like you failed to do so, it was only because the enemy was too strong.

This is .......

We do not know where he is hiding, but we must be prepared for his return. When the time comes, I'll leave you to it. We can't fight him without you.

Finish him off and release the curse and the regret of missing him.